Concealable Handgun Holster For Body Armor

ABSTRACT

A concealable handgun holster for use with a body armor vest or other similar equipment is disclosed. The holster comprises a base for removably attaching the holster to the body armor vest, and a holster encasement for securing the handgun in the holster.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/492,245 filed on Jun. 1, 2011, which applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The concealable handgun holster for a garment such as body armor is in the field of holsters for handguns, and more specifically in the field of concealable handgun holsters for use with body armor.

2. Summary of the Invention

Law enforcement officers typically carry multiple weapons, including multiple handguns, upon their person while on duty. The officer may carry a primary weapon in a holster on the officer's duty belt. In addition, the officer may carry a backup weapon, in case the primary weapon is taken from them by an attacker, or otherwise is out of their control or unavailable during an encounter with a threat. The officer may also desire to carry the backup gun in a concealed manner so as to prevent an attacker from attempting to take the backup gun.

Law enforcement officers may also wear garments such as body armor to provide protection from small arms fire from an attacker. The body armor is typically worn under a duty uniform covering the officer's torso. Such body armor vests may prevent the use of concealed holsters that are currently available. The concealable handgun holster described herein is designed to be used with body armor or other garments, allowing an officer to have an accessible and concealed backup gun while wearing the vest or garment.

The holster for a handgun comprises a base and a holster encasement attached thereto, wherein the base and the holster encasement engage and secure the handgun, and wherein the base is removably attached to a garment, such as the body armor vest. In one embodiment, the holster is removably attached to the garment by hook and loop material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the concealable handgun holster.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The concealable handgun holster described herein comprises a holster that may be removably attached to a garment such as a body armor vest or other similar piece of equipment. Many such vests incorporate areas of hook and loop material for adjusting the fit of the vest to the wearer. The holster described herein attaches to the hook and loop material attached to the vest to allow its user to position it in a position that is desirable to the user, and that is concealable and easily accessible.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the concealable handgun holster is depicted. The holster comprises a base 100. The base may be made of leather, plastic, or any other material that is capable of supporting the weight of the handgun. The back side 102 (not visible in FIG. 1), or a portion thereof, of the base 100 is covered with a material 104 for attaching the holster to a body armor vest. In one embodiment the material 104 is hook and loop material.

A holster encasement 108 is attached to the front side 106 of the base 100, and together with the base 100 defines a space for inserting and retaining a handgun. The holster encasement may be formed from plastic, leather or other similar materials that are capable of being formed to the shape of a gun for securing the gun to the base 100. In the depicted embodiment, the holster encasement 108 is riveted to the base 100 by rivits 112. Pistol 110 may be inserted into or removed from the holster by sliding it into and out of the space defined by the base 100 and the holster encasement 108 by inserting the barrel of the handgun into the top opening 113 between base 100 and encasement 108. Holster encasement 108 may be attached to base 100 by various means of attachment to leather, including the rivets 112 depicted in FIG. 1, among other types of attachment such as sewing or adhesives.

Body armor vests or other similar equipment may be provided with areas of hook and loop attachment on the chest, sides or stomach area thereof. If no such areas of hook and loop material are provided, they can be added by adhering them or sewing them onto the vest or other garment. The hook and loop material 104 on side 102 of base 100 attaches to the hook and loop material on the vest to secure the holster thereto. It may then be adjusted in location to fit the needs of the user.

During use, the holster is attached to the body armor or other garment beneath the officer's duty uniform or other outer garment.

Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described. 

1. A holster for a handgun comprising a base having a first and a second side; a holster encasement attached to the first side of the base; and an area of hook and loop material attached to the second side of the base.
 2. The holster of claim 1 wherein the base is a substantially flat sheet.
 3. The holster of claim 2 wherein the holster encasement is formed to fit the handgun.
 4. The holster of claim 3 further comprising an area of hook and loop material attached to a garment worn by a user of the holster.
 5. The holster of claim 4 wherein the area of hook and loop material on the base engages the area of hook and loop material attached to the garment.
 6. The holster of claim 5 wherein the garment is a body armor vest.
 7. A method of using the device of claim 1 comprising the steps of: engaging the area of hook and loop material on the base to an area of hook and loop material attached to a first garment of a user; inserting a handgun in the holster; concealing the handgun and the holster beneath a second garment of the user. 